Saturday, 29 July 2017

Cowapolooza marks 16 years by bringing Colin James back to the Friendly City

Note: This is an update (and editing) from last year's post 
as the Colin James concert was washed away in 2016, 
but City Hall was able to sign the Canadian music legend 
to this year's date as a somewhat return engagement.
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Woodstock festival is about music, but also family fun like buskers and a soap box derby

Toboggan hill in Southside Park is a terrific outdoor venue for free concerts 


By Mark Schadenberg
I was wondering this past spring what news was up Brad Janssen’s sleeve?
It turns out it was an ‘ace’ as the City of Woodstock announced Colin James would (again) be the top billing for a free concert at Cowapolooza on Saturday, Aug 19, 2017.
This is the 16th year for the music festival in the city’s gem outdoor destination called Southside Park – an event which also includes many fun family activities led by a 3 p.m. cow milking competition on Aug. 19.
Janssen is the coordinator of all city-hosted events, ranging from the Victoria Day parade to Canada Day fireworks to the Woodstock sports wall of fame ceremonies.
Even for a festive Canada 150 year, it’s obvious that no budget would exist in Woodstock for bringing in a AAA star such as Avril, Alanis or Adams, but Colin James is a music superstar in Canada with a discography dating back to 1988 and a strong string of hits such as Five Long Years, Far Away Like A Radio, Just Came Back, Voodoo Thing and a cover version of the Van Morrison track Into The Mystic. He will release his 18th album in October to be called Blue Highways.
James has won 6 Juno Awards, including male vocalist of the year in both 1991 and 1996, and earned the prestigious song of the year trophy in 1991 for Just Came Back. James, who was an inductee into the 2016 Western Canadian Music Hall of Fame, is a three-time Juno nominee for entertainer of the year.  
James, who will turn 53 on Aug. 17 on is originally from Saskatchewan, has a blues rock style unique in Canadian music. However, his versatility can also be seen in the 3 records knows as Colin James and The Little Big Band.

2016 Poster
2017 POSTER

COWAPOLOOZA
The Cowapolooza list of events is impressive. It’s a natural to place emphasis on a cow as Oxford County and Woodstock are known as the Dairy Capital Of Canada.
Among the local Cowapolooza sponsors are TD Bank -- as main stage sponsors in 2017. 
Woodstock's Springbank Snow Countess statue
is found at the corner of Springbank and Dundas streets
Saturday
Unfortunately, the Soap Box Derby, which was set to begin the day at 9 a.m., has been cancelled for this year due to a lack of entries. Hopefully the carts will return to Finkle Street hill next year.
Among the returning attractions is the annual Stongman / Strongwoman competitions.
Fun includes pony rides, small children’s rides, crafter’s alley, a skateboarding demo, petting zoo, live music entertainment on a secondary stage, and my place to volunteer at the Lions Club beer garden.
Always popular with the kids, is the Touch-A-Truck display, which is 1-4 p.m. and includes a chance to chat with fire fighters and learn more about recent improvements to the city's bus service. 
Check the website for full details or What's On Woodstock magazine.

The band Soul Tripper will be on the secondary stage at 2 p.m., and again around 4:15 -- just after the cow milking competition.
Opening act for Colin James is Tim Tyler at 7 p.m. Could you say Tim Tyler Band is ‘back by popular demand’ as they also were among the 2009 performers and were also slated to appear in 2016.
Colin James is on stage in Southside Park around 8:30. 
The Colin James appearance in Woodstock is in the middle of a busy summer schedule as he will will play in Muskoka’s Huntsville on Aug. 21 and then Toronto's CNE on Aug. 22. 


Brad Janssen 

Friday
The Friday night concert will focus on the return on the McCartney Years cover band. Although I have not seen a set list, this exceptional performance is noteworthy in that Paul McCartney was known for a Beatles library, but also solo hits and great tunes by the Wings. 
Owning the stage at 7 p.m. will be The Mudmen, which can only be described as Celtic rock. Check out some of their entries on YouTube as this Canadian band combine bagpipes with aggressive rock. 
Previous headliners for Cowapolooza, by the way, have included Trooper, April Wine, The Stampeders and Beverley Mahood.





www.cityofwoodstock.ca

LINKS:
http://markroyallepage.blogspot.ca/2016/07/cedar-creek-in-woodstocks-southside.html
https://www.cityofwoodstock.ca/en/visiting-woodstock/cowapolooza-saturday-night-concert.asp
www.mudmen.ca
www.themccartneyyears.net
http://www.woodstocksentinelreview.com/2017/07/26/rained-out-last-year-the-six-time-juno-award-winner-will-take-the-main-stage-on-aug-19-at-the-free-festival


If you plan on buying a home 
in the Dairy Capital Of Canada,
contact me today!
Mark Schadenberg, Sales Representative
Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES designation)

Royal LePage Triland Realty
Independently Owned & Operated, Brokerage
757 Dundas St, Woodstock
(519) 537-1553, cell or text

Email: mschadenberg@rogers.com
Twitter: markroyallepage
Facebook: Mark Schadenberg, Royal LePage Triland


Discussion . . . Direction . . . Determination . . . Destination
Yours truly competing in the cow milking competition 4 years ago 

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